Separator for bottle carriers



Feb. 1, 1966 A. J. WEISS SEPARATOR FOR BOTTLE CARRIERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Jan. 13, 1960 Feb. 1, 1966 A. J. WEISS SEPARATOR FORBOTTLE CARRIERS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR J. Wass ATTzuEYs United States Patent 3,232,517 SEPARATOR FDRBOTTLE CARRIERS Arthur J. Weiss, Bergeufield, N..l., assiguor toContinental Can Company, Inc, I ew York, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkOriginal application Jan. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 2,225, new Patent No.3,166,228, dated Jan, 19, 1965. Divided and this application May 19,1961, Ser. No. 111,391 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-42) This application is adivisional application based upon my copending application Serial No.2,225, filed January 13, 1960, and entitled: Separator for BottleCarriers, now Patent No. 3,166,228, granted January 19, 1965.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in thecontainer art, and more particularly relates to new and usefulseparators for use in conjunction with bottle carriers.

The essential requirements of a carrier for bottles, such as soft drinkbottles, include a jacket which may be passed around a plurality ofbottles and engaged beneath the bottoms thereof, the bottles passingthrough suitable openings in the top portion of the jacket. The jacketmust be provided with a suitable handle to facilitate the carrying ofthe bottles, and a separator intermediate the bottles to prevent thebottles from striking each other and the resultant chipping or breakingof the bottles. The present invention relates to a jacket of the typewhich is passed around a series of bottles, for example, six bottles,and secures together the bottles as a unit. In the simplest form, thisjacket is merely an elongated blank which is passed down over the necksof the bottles and then is folded beneath the bottoms of the bottles andis connected together. In order to maintain the simplicity of thejacket, it is desirable that the separator for the bottles be separateand independent from the jacket in its initial state. It is to this typeof separator that the present invention relates.

It is an object of the invention to provide a separator for use in abottle carrier, which separator is in the form of a blank having aplurality of partition members out therefrom, the partition membersbeing swingable with respect to the blank to positions normal to theplane of the blank, and the partition members being so arranged andconnected to the blank whereby they may be mechanically pushed from theplane of the blank to their bottle separating positions so that theseparator may be mechanically formed and positioned automatically withrespect to a group of bottles which are to be packaged within a jacket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple separatorfor use in conjunction with bottle carriers of the jacket type, theseparator being in the form of a blank having a cut-out extending amajor portion of the length thereof, the cut-out defining two partitionswhich are hingedly connected to the body of the blank and which may beswung from the plane of the blank to positions normal to the plane ofthe blank, the partition members having generally zig-zag ends which arecomplemental so that the combined lengths of the partition members maybe greater than the length of the cut-out, thus permitting widerpartition members than are normally available.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel separator for usein a bottle carrier for separating the individual bottles within thecarrier to prevent the engagement of the bottles with each other, theseparator being formed from a folded blank which is divided into twohalves, and each of the halves is provided with an elongated cut-outdefining a pair of partition members swingable from the plane of theblank half to a position normal 3,232,517 Fatented Feb. 1, 1966 "ice tothe plane of the blank half, the partition members of the two halves ofthe blank being generally aligned with each other and being securedtogether in the formation of the separator from the blank, and therebeing a projecting finger on one of the blank halves for each of thepartition members whereby when the partition members are swung from theplane of the folded blank, they will be locked in their bottleseparating positions by the projecting fingers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a separator for use inseparating the bottles disposed within a bottle carrier, the separatorbeing formed from a folded blank which has a pair of similar halves,each of the halves having an elongated cut-out defining two partitionmembers which are hingedly connected to the blank for swinging out ofthe plane of the blank to planes normal to the plane of the blank, thepartition members of the two blank halves being generally aligned andbeing secured together to form two ply partition members, one of theplies of each of the partition members being of a larger outline thanthe other ply, whereby swinging of the partition members from the planeof the folded blank is limited to one direction only.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel separatorfor use within a carrier for bottles for separating the individualbottles from each other, the separator being formed from a folded blankand including a pair of centrally located partition members which arecut from the blank and are hingedly connected to the blank for swingingfrom the plane of the blank to positions generally normal to the planeof the blank, the ends of the blank halves being spread apart to formstop portions at the ends of the separator to prevent the outwardmovement of endmost bottles within the bottle carrier.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims, and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier and shows the jacketof the bottle carrier provided with a separator.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the separator of FIGURE 1 removed fromthe remainder of the bottle carrier, and shows the specific detailsthereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the detailsof the latch mechanism for retaining one of the partition members of theseparator in a position swung from the plane of the body of theseparator.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the section line 44of FIGURE 1, and shows the specific relationship between the separatorand bottles carried by the bottle carrier.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the separator of FIGURE2 is formed.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 of a bottle carrieremploying another form of separa tor.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the separator removed from theremainder of the bottle carrier, and shows the specific details thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the section line 88of FIGURE 6, and shows the specific relationship of the separator withrespect to bottles disposed within the bottle carrier.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the blank from which the separator of FIGURE7 is formed.

Reference is first made to the embodiment of the invention illustratedin FIGURES 1 through 5, inclusive, of

the drawings. The bottle carrier illustrated in FIGURE 1 is generallyreferred to by the numeral 50, and is designed for carrying six bottlesB. The bottles have been omitted from FIGURE 1 for purposes of clarity,although they are illustrated in FIGURE 4. The bottle carrier 50 isformed of three basic components. These include a jacket 26 whichextends about the lower portions of the bottles B. The jacket 26 is nota part of this invention as such, and therefore will not be fullydescribed. The jacket 26 is formed from a single elongated blank whichis folded to define an upper portion 27 having two rows of openings 28formed therein for the reception of necks of bottles B. The upperportion 27 is also provided with an elongated slot 29 through which ahandle portion passes.

The jacket 26 also includes a bottom portion 31 which is formed byoverlapping flaps 32 and 33, the flaps 32 and 33 being secured togetherby means of a plurality of tabs 34, ea ch of the tabs 34 underlying andvbeing in alignment with a pair of the bottles B. Thus, the bot- 'tles Bserve to hold the tabs 34. in place.

The bottle carrier 50 also includes a separator 51. As is bestillustrated in FIGURE 5, the separator 51 is formed from an elongated,generally rectangular blank 52 The blank 52 is divided into halves 53,54 by a central transverse fold line 55. The half 53 has a reduced widthhandle-forming extension 56. projecting therefrom remote from the foldline 55. The half 54 has a similar handle-forming portion 57 projectingtherefrom remote from the fold line 55.

The handle-forming portion 56 is provided with a cut-out 58 whichdefines a finger-receiving opening. A portion of the material within thecut-out 58 is removed, as at 59, and the cut-out 58 defines a flap 60which is hingedly connected to the remainder of the handle formingportion 56 by a hinge line 61. It is to be noted that the flap 60 isgenerally rectangular in outline.

A cut-out 62 is formed in the handle-forming portion 57 generally inalignment with the cut-out 58. A portion of the material of thehandle-forming portion 57 defined by the cut-out 62 is removed, as at63.The cutout 62 also defines a flap 64 which is connected to the remainderof the handle-forming portion 57 by a fold line 65. It is to be notedthat the side edges of the cutout 62 are sinusoidal andthat the flap 64also has sinusoidal edges. The maximum width of the flap 64 correspondsgenerally to the width of the flap 60, with parts of the handle-formingportion 57 projecting into the opening defined by the cut-out 62functioning as stop mem bers 66. The purpose of these stopmembers 66will be described in detail hereinafter.

The blank half 53 is provided with an elongated, generally rectangularcut-out 67 which terminates adjacent the side edges of the half 53. Thecut-out 67 defines a pair of partition member plies 68, 69 which areseparated by a zig-zag line 70, the zig-zag line 70 definingcomplemental fingers 71 on the opposed ends of the plies 68 and 69.

The shape of the cut-out 67 is such as to define a pair of projectingportions 72 which project into the central part of each of the plies 68,69. The projecting portions 72 of each of the plies are disposed inopposed relation and are generally triangular in outline. Each of thepro= jecting portions 72 terminates in an inwardly projecting finger ortab 73. Each pair of the projecting portions 72 are connected to theirrespective one of the plies 68, 69 by a pair of aligned fold lines 74.The connection between the plies 68, 69 and the remainder of the blankhalf 53 is such as to permit swinging of the plies 68, 69 out of theplane of the blank half 53.

The blank half 54 is provided with a cut-out 75 which is similar inoutline to the cut-out 67, but differs therefrom in that it is slightlysmaller than the cut-out 67. The cut-out 75 defines a pair of partitionmember plies 76, 77 which are separated by azig-Zag line 78, the

zig-zag line 78 defining a plurality of fingers 79 on the opposed endsof the plies 76, 77, the fingers 79 being complementary to each other.

The shape of the cut-out 75 is such as to provide a pair of inwardlyprojecting portions 80 projecting inwardly into each of the plies 76,77. The projecting portions 80 are disposed in opposed relation and aregenerally triangular in outline. It is to be noted that the projectingportions 89 are slightly wider than the projecting portions 72. Theprojecting portions 86 are integrally connected to their respectiveplies 76 and 77 along aligned fold lines 81 so that the plies 76 and 77may swing out of the plane of the blank 52.

The blank 52 is folded along the central fold line 55 and the opposedportions thereof are adhered together. The flaps 60 and 64 are securedtogether to form a single flap, and the plies 68 and 76 are securedtogether to form a partition member 82, whereas the plies 69 and 77 aresecured together to form a partition member 83.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the partition members 82 and 83 canbe swung from the plane of the separator 51 in one direction only. Thisis due to the fact that the plies 68 and 69 are larger than the plies76, 77, respectively. As before, the partition members 82 and 83 will bemoved out of the plane of the separator 51 by mechanical fingers whichwill push on them. Once the partition members 82 and 83 have been swungto positions approximately at right angles to the plane of the separator51, they will be locked against return by the fingers 73, as is bestshown in FIGURE 3. For example, with respect to the partition member 83,it will be seen that as the partition member 83 is swung at right anglesto the plane of the separator 51, the ply 77 will pass over the finger73 and down behind the finger 73, thus precluding the return of thepartition member 83 to the plane of the separator 51.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the separator 51 is intended toseparate six bottles B disposed within the jacket 26. The main portionof the separator 51 is disposed between two rows of three bottles eachand the partition members 82 and 83 are disposed between adjacentbottles of the individual rows. During the packaging operation, thepartition member 51 is first positioned between the six bottles B asthey pass along a conveyor. The jacket 26 is then placed down over thebottles and the separator 51 with the handle-forming portions 56 and 57passing upwardly through the slot 29 in the upper portion of the jacket26 and defining a handle referred to by the numeral 84-. The jacket 26is. then wrapped around the bottoms of the bottles B and the bottomportions thereof secured together to complete the package. The flaps 60and 64, which have been secured together, are then swung out of theplane of the handle 84, with the flap 6%) being disposed behind the ears66 and thus retaining the flaps in a. suitable carrying position, as isbest illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 6 through 9, inclusive, wherein anotherform of the invention is illustrated, In FIGURE, 6 there is illustrateda bottle carrier, generally referred to by the numeral 90. The bottlecarrier is formed of a suitable jacket, such as the jacket 26, and aseparator, generally referred to by the numeral 91, the separator 91being formed in accordance with the invention. The separator 91 isformed from a blank, generally referred to by the numeral 92, the blank92 being illustrated in FIGURE 9.

The blank 92 is provided in the central portion thereof with threecut-outs 93, 94 and 95. The cut-outs are each of an elongated,rectangular configuration, and the cut-outs are in spaced alignmenttransversely of the blank 92 along the center line thereof. The spacingof the cutouts 93, 94 and 95 corresponds generally to the spacing of thetabs 34 which lock together the bottom portions of the jacket 26.

Fold lines 97 and 98 extend between the cut-outs 93,

94 and 95 along the center line of the blank 92. A pair of outwardlydiverging fold lines 99 extend outwardly from the outer corner of thecut-out 93 to the outer edge of the blank 92 and define a wedge-shapedspreader member 100. Similar outwardly diverging fold lines 101 extendoutwardly from the outer corners of the cutout 95 to the opposite edgeof the blank 92 and define a wedge-shaped spreader member 102. The foldlines 97, 98, 99, and 101, together with the cut-outs 93, 94 and 95divide the blank 92 into halves 103 and 104.

The blank half 103 is provided with a recess 105 in the upper edgethereof. A similar recess 106 is formed in the blank half 104. It is tobe understood that the separator 91 does not have a handle formedintegral therewith, as in the case of the separator 51, and therefore,the upper portion of the separator 91 is recessed to provide clearancefor a handle 107 which is separate and independent from both the jacket26 and the separator 91, and which extends upwardly through the upperportion of the jacket 26 through the slot 29 formed therein.

The blank half 103 has a large rectangular cut-out 108 formed therein,the cut-out 108 terminating adjacent the sideedges of the blank half103. The cut-out 108 defines a pair of partition member forming plies109 and 110 which are separated by a zig-zag cut line 111 defining aplurality of fingers 112 on opposed edges of the plies 109, 110, thefingers being complemental to each other. The cut-out 108 also defines apair of generally triangular projecting portions for each of the plies109, 110, the projecting portions being referred to by the numeral 113and projecting inwardly into their respective plies. The projectingportions 113 are integrally connected to their respective plies 109, 110along aligned fold lines 114, which permits the swinging of the plies109, 110, out of the plane of the blank half 103. The inner portion ofeach of the projecting portions 113 terminates in a finger or tab 115which functions as a locking device in a manner to be described indetail hereinafter.

The blank half 104 is also provided with an elongated generallyrectangular cut-out 116. The cut-out 116 defines a pair of partitionmember forming plies 117, 118. The outline of the cut-out 116 isslightly smaller than that of the cut-out 108, with the result that theplies 117 and 118 are slightly smaller than the plies 109, 110. At thistime, it is pointed out that the cut-out 108 is aligned with the cut-out116.

The cut-out 116 defines a pair of inwardly projecting portions 119 foreach of the plies 117, 118. The inwardly projecting portions 119 projectinwardly into their respective one of the plies and are generallytriangular in outline. Each pair of inwardly projecting portions 119 isintegrally connected to its associated ply by aligned fold lines 120which facilitate the swinging of the plies 117, 118 out of the plane ofthe blank half 104.

It is to be noted that the plies 117, 118 are separated by a zig-zag outline 121 which defines a plurality of complemental fingers on theopposed ends of the plies 117, 118. The fingers defined by the cut line121 are referred to by the numeral 122.

When it is desired to form the separator 91, the blank 92 is foldedalong the fold lines 97, 98, 99 and 101. This folding of the blank 92results in the central portion of the separator 91 being in opposedtouching relation whereas the outer portions thereof are spaced apart bythe spreader members 100 and 102. Thus, the individual blank halves 103,104 retain their identity. The ply 109 is aligned with the ply 117 andcombines therewith to form a partition member 123. Also, the ply 110 isaligned with the ply 118 and combines therewith to define a partitionmember 124. When the blank 92 is so folded, the partition members 123,124 are swung out of the general plane of the folded blank to positionssubstantially at right angles to the plane of the folded blank, as isbest illustrated in FIGURE 7. This is preferably done by mechanicalmeans in an automatic assembly (not shown). When the partition members123, 124 are swung to the positions illustrated in FIGURE 7, the plies109, swing past the fingers and the fingers 115 function as stop membersor latches against the return of the partition members 123, 124 to thegeneral planes of the blank 92. The partition members 123, 124 now serveto hold together the central portion of the separator 91, as is bestillustrated in FIGURE 7. Incidentally, if it is so desired, smallquantities of adhesive may be placed generally in alignment with theprojecting portions 113 and 119 to accomplish the desired securingtogether of the central portion of the separator 91.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 8 in particular, wherein it is shownthat the separator 91 is to be used in conjunction with six bottles Bdisposed within the jacket 26. The main body of the separator 91 isdisposed between two rows of three bottles each, and the partitionmembers 123, 124 are disposed between adjacent bottles in the individualrows. It is to be noted that the spread ends of the separator 91function as stops to prevent the outward movement of the outermostbottles within the bottle carrier 90.

In assembling a package utilizing the bottle carrier 90, the separator91 is positioned with respect to the six bottles as they pass along aconveyor to the packaging station. Then, the jacket 26, equipped withthe handle 107, is placed down over the bottles B with the necks of thebottles passing through the openings 28 in the upper portion of thejacket 26. The bottom part of the jacket 26 is then folded inwardly andis locked together by the tabs 34 to complete the package.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageousprovision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However,attention is directed to the fact that variations may be made in theexample separators disclosed herein without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A separator for use in a bottle carton for separating bottlesdisposed therein, said separator including an elongated body adapted toextend between two rows of bottles, and partition members each extendingtransversely from opposite sides of said body for extending betweenadjacent bottles of the rows of bottles, said partition members beingpartially struck from and centrally hingedly connected to said body forswinging movement from the general plane of said body to said extendedpositions, said separator being of a double ply construction and saidbody and each of said partition members being of a double ply, one ofthe plies of each of said partition members being of a smaller outlinethan the outline of the other of said plies, whereby swinging of each ofsaid partition members relative to said body is restricted as todirection, each of said body plies having a single opening therein fromwhich respective ones of said partition plies are formed.

2. The separator of claim 1 wherein said body plies are connectedtogether generally throughout the areas of said body plies.

3. The separator of claim 1 wherein said plies are formed from a singlesheet folded upon itself, central portions of said body plies beingsecured together and side edges of said body plies being free anddisposed in diverging relation to define outer bottle stops.

4. The separator of claim 3 wherein said body ply side edges aremaintained in spaced relation by integral bottom members.

5. The separator of claim 1 wherein said partition smaller plies areformed from the same body ply.

6. The separator of claim 1 wherein said partitions have lapped opposededge portions whereby the combined overall length of said partitions isin excess of the length of the portion of said body from which saidpartitions are formed.

7. The separator of claim 1 wherein said opposed edge portions are of acomplementary zig-zag outline.

8. A separator particularly adapted for positioning between articlesarranged intwo rows and in transverse alignment, said separatorcomprising a body adapted," to be positioned between rows of articlesand being of a double ply construction, and at least one partitionmember formed from said body and being separated therefrom except fortwo opposed double ply hinge portions carried by said body andprojecting into central portions of said partition member, saidpartition member being connected to said hinge portions along alignedhinge lines for swinging movement out of the plane'of said body to aposition normal to said body with said partition member projecting toopposite sides of said body for positioning-between two adjacentarticles on each side of said body, said pa rtition members being of adouble ply construction with the two plies being bonded together, and atleast one of said hinge portions having one ply thereof extending beyondthe other ply thereof towards said partition member and defining aprojecting finger yieldable in the direction-of swinging of thepartition member from the planeof said body and being automaticallyengageable behind "said partition member in the position thereof normalto said body, to define a stop preventing the reverse swinging of saidpartition member.

9. The separator of claim 8 wherein the ply of said partition membercorresponding to said one ply of said one hinge portion is of a greateroutline than the other References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,913,655 6/1933 Benoit.

2,158,072 5/1939 Jones 229-29 2,304,683 12/1942 Finn 229-52X 2,402,2186/1946 We'sselman.

2,527,702 10/1950 Buttery 229-28 2,646,202 7/1955 Gibbons 229 2,769,53511/1956 Bruce 206 65 2,874,870 2/1959 Collura 206 X 2,965,278 12/1960Phillips 229-28 'TH'ERON E. c'oNnoNJrim/u Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, FRANKLIN T. GARRETT,

' Examiners.

1. A SEPARATOR FOR USE IN A BOTTLE CARTON FOR SEPARATING BOTTLES DISPOSED THEREIN, SAID SEPARATOR INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BODY ADAPTED TO EXTEND BETWEEN TWO ROWS OF BOTTLES, AND PARTITION MEMBERS EACH EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BODY FOR EXTENDING BETWEEN ADJACENT BOTTLES OF THE ROWS OF BOTTLES, SAID PARTITION MEMBERS BEING PARTIALLY STRUCK FROM AND CENTRALLY HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BODY FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT FROM THE GENERAL PLANE OF SAID BODY TO SAID EXTENDED POSITIONS, SAID SEPARATOR BEING OF A DOUBLE PLY CONSTRUCTION AND SAID BODY AND EACH OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERS BEING OF A DOUBLE PLY, ONE OF THE PLIES OF EACH OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERS BEING OF A SMALLER OUTLINE THAN OUTLINE OF THE OTHER OF SAID PLIES, WHEREBY SWINGING OF EACH OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERS RELATIVE TO SAID BODY IS RESTRICTED AS TO DIRECTION, EACH OF SAID BODY PLIES HAVING A SINGLE OPENING THEREIN FROM WHICH RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID PARTITION PLIES ARE FORMED. 